Portable Network Graphics

PNG – is a scan-line graphic format developed as an alternative to GIF, which had a commercial license. It is based on the best features of the predecessor, including lossless compression and transparent background support. The PNG technology ensures the preservation of all stages of editing and the restoration of the step with the preservation of quality. However, it does not allow to save several pictures in one file at once, which limits its use in the development of animated images.

Technische details

The PNG extension was proposed as a tool that helps to transfer and store images on the World Wide Web. The technology is limited to an 8-bit transparency channel, so you can adjust the colors from opaque to transparent. It supports 24-bit RGB colors, matching images and shades of gray. However, as a non-professional format, PNG can not display other color spaces. Most programs allow to open such files, they can also run in any browser. Images are different in small weight with good quality.

Programma's

Apple Preview

Microsoft Windows Photos

Adobe Photoshop CC

Corel Paint Shop Pro

Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery Viewer

Hoofdprogramma

Microsoft Paint

Developer

PNG Development Group (donated to W3C)

MIME type

image/png

Microsoft icon file

ICO – is a special format for displaying icons, shortcuts, icons in Windows OS. It represents two bitmaps. The first is the image mask, and the second is the icon displayed on the mask. It is used to connect a picture with an OS file. Users of devices with operating systems from Microsoft can edit the ICO files to create special icons. It can be converted to files with popular JEPG and PNG extensions.
Saving files in ICO is used when developing graphics in the form of indicators, icons and similar graphical elements. They are used as an icon and site logo. They are opened by any application for viewing images and special programs like ACDSee or Axialis IconWorkshop.

Technische details

The .ico extension is used from the very first versions of Windows OS, gradually adding in size and maximum number of supported hues. For example, the "seven" is able to support icons up to 256x256 pixels in 32 bits. To ensure the compatibility with earlier versions of Windows, it is better to use eight-bit icon versions.